Kerala Private Nurses Strike: 490 Hospitals Hit As Nurses Demand ₹40,000 Minimum Pay

Thiruvananthapuram: Hundreds of private sector nurses across Kerala went on a statewide strike on Wednesday, disrupting services at nearly 490 private hospitals and clinics.

The protest has been called by the United Nurses Association (UNA), which represents a majority of nurses working in the State’s private healthcare sector.

The nurses say they are demanding fair wages, better staffing levels, improved patient-caregiver ratios, and an end to alleged arbitrary layoffs, especially targeting union members.

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The main reason behind the strike is low salary.

Nurses have demanded a minimum basic monthly pay of ₹40,000. According to the UNA, many nurses are currently working long hours for salaries that are below acceptable standards.

The association claims that wages in the private sector have not been revised since 2019, despite rising living costs and increasing workload.

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Another key issue is staff shortage in private hospitals. Nurses say that many hospitals are chronically understaffed, which increases their workload and affects patient care.

They are demanding:

• Improved nurse-to-patient ratio

• Recruitment of more nursing staff

• Reduced working hours and workload

• Better overall working conditions

The nurses argue that overwork not only affects their health but also impacts the quality of care provided to patients.

The United Nurses Association has accused the State government of ignoring their concerns. According to the union, authorities have not taken strong action to ensure salary revision in private hospitals, even after court observations on wage issues.

The association also alleged that some private hospitals have resorted to arbitrary layoffs, particularly targeting nurses involved in union activities.

The nurses had earlier staged a token protest on February 21, 2026, but claimed that it did not lead to any meaningful response from the government.

The UNA has now warned that if their demands are not addressed soon, they may launch an indefinite strike, which could further disrupt healthcare services across Kerala.

In addition to salary revision, the nurses have also demanded:

• Implementation of the Dr. Balaram Committee report

• Implementation of the Jagdish Prasad Committee report

• UGC pay scales for nursing college teachers

• Strict enforcement of fair labour practices in private hospitals

With around 490 private hospitals and clinics affected, outpatient services, routine procedures, and non-emergency care have reportedly been disrupted in several districts.

Patients and their families have expressed concern over the situation, especially if the strike continues for a longer period.

(With inputs from The Hindu)